Walnut Creek is a city located in Contra Costa County, California, USA, in the East Bay region of the San Francisco Bay Area. As of the 2000 census, the city had a total population of 64,297.
Walnut Creek is located at 37°54'36" North, 122°2'51" West (37.909956, -122.047373). It is located in a large valley below the western slopes of Mount Diablo.
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total area of 51.6 km2 (19.9 mi2). 51.6 km2 (19.9 mi2) of it is land and 0.05% is water.
As of the census of 2000, there are 64,296 people, 30,301 households, and 16,544 families residing in the city. The population density is 1,246.9/km2 (3,229.6/mi2). There are 31,425 housing units at an average density of 609.4/km2 (1,578.5/mi2). The racial makeup of the city is 83.89% White, 1.07% African American, 0.33% Native American, 9.36% Asian, 0.15% Pacific Islander, 1.96% from other races, and 3.25% from two or more races. 5.99% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There are 30,301 households out of which 20.9% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.7% are married couples living together, 6.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 45.4% are non-families. 38.0% of all households are made up of individuals and 19.7% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.09 and the average family size is 2.78.
In the city the population is spread out with 17.6% under the age of 18, 5.2% from 18 to 24, 27.1% from 25 to 44, 24.8% from 45 to 64, and 25.3% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 45 years. For every 100 females there are 85.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 81.5 males.
The median income for a household in the city is $63,238, and the median income for a family is $83,794. Males have a median income of $66,482 versus $45,220 for females. The per capita income for the city is $39,875. 3.7% of the population and 1.7% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 3.1% of those under the age of 18 and 3.6% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
Walnut Creek, was first known as "The Corners," where two roads leading from Pacheco and Lafayette met. This Corner is now known as the Mt. Diablo Boulevard and North Main Street intersection. The first settler of the area was William Slusher, who built a dwelling on the bank of Walnut Creek, which was then known as "Nuts Creek" in 1849. Today, Walnut Creek has been routed underneath downtown through a series of tunnels starting at the southwest end of Macy's and ending just southwest of The Cantina Restaurant. Slusher's dwelling was built in the area of modern-day Liberty Bell Plaza.
Milo Hough of Lafayette built the hotel named "Walnut Creek House" in the corners in 1855. A blacksmith shop and a store sprouted up, and a year later, Hiram Penniman (who built Shadelands Ranch) laid out the town site and realigned today's Main Street.
In December 1862 a U.S. Post Office was established, around which the community was named "Walnut Creek." The downtown street patterns laid out by pioneer Homer Shuey in 1871-1872 are still present today.
On October 21, 1914, the town and the surrounding area of 500 acres (2 km2), were incorporated as the 8th city in Contra Costa County, California. Politically, Walnut Creek used to be a Republican stronghold, but is increasingly leaning Democratic.
Source:
WalnutCreekCA.com
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